Describing the event as the best yet, NHS Borders chairman John Raine, said: “The Celebrating Excellence awards recognise the hard work, commitment and dedication of staff and volunteers across the organisation.

“It is also an opportunity for everyone to enjoy themselves and celebrate the care, compassion, dignity, respect and quality teamwork that takes place across NHS Borders every single day.

“It was very obvious on the night just how much it meant to the finalists and winners to be nominated by their colleagues or patients.

“I would like to congratulate once again all the nominees, finalists and winners and those involved in the organisation of such a fabulous event.”

The chairman’s award was given to the Huntlyburn Ward Team for their outstanding contribution to the organisation.

The team were praised for creating a sense of community on the ward, encourage patients to participate in activities to help in their recovery.

There were a couple of new accolades given out this year.

A values award recognising an individual or team demonstrating care, compassion, dignity and respect to patients, their families and carers was awarded to Shona Finlay, a domestic at the Borders General Hospital in Melrose.

The primary care provider of the year award was won by Dr Jane Savory.

Other prizes went, for improving health, to the lifestyle adviser support service; for innovation and improvement, to Dr Brian Magowan and his team; for partnership working, to Irene Clark, partnership chairwoman for primary and community; for leading by example, to Gillian Forbes, a sexual health nurse specialist; for rising star, to Emma Govan, a social worker; for clinical excellence, to Margaret Davison, an assisted birth practitioner midwife; for supporter, to Eilean Hogarth, a Margaret Kerr Unit fundraiser; for work behind the scenes, to the infection control team and Alan Grainger, a telecommunications engineer; and for person-centred care, to Jake Cowan and Martin McAllister, both community learning disability nurses.

Chairman’s commendations went out to Mary Bishop, a patient safety assistant; fundraiser Eilean Hogarth; Costas Kontothanassis, assistant general manager for primary and community services and contracts; the Childsmile team; and the Melburn Lodge team.